Our history
There has been industrial activity at Rygene as far back as 1616, when royal permission was granted to erect and run a sawmill by the waterfall.
The amount of water available for industrial production has been requiring increasingly higher levels of investment.
The first pulp mills were founded in Norway between 1860 and 1870. In 1873 a small mill was built at Rygene; however, it burned down five years later. In 1883 a new mill was built and sold to Smith & Thommesen, predecessors to the present owners.
The work force at Rygene
There are currently 20 staff members employed at the mill, a number that has been steadily decreasing due to the implementation of new technology.
Rygene is an important local employer, having both a stable work force and extremely low level of absenteeism. Some of the staff members at the mill are third and fourth-generation employees.
Sales & Marketing
Rygene’s sales and marketing is handled through its representative Europcell; having its sales office in Hanau, Europcell covers all major European markets.
Most of our products are exported to the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and Asia (domestic sales are very limited).
Highlights at Rygene
[icon_timeline timeline_line_style=»solid» timeline_line_color=»#008e99″ time_block_bg_color=»#008e99″ time_sep_color=»#ffffff» time_sep_bg_color=»#008e99″ tl_animation=»tl-animation-slide-out»][icon_timeline_item time_title=»2017:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]Introduced CTMP.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1999:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]Only sawmill chips.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1977:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]TMP was introduced.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1963:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]Flash-drying equipment was installed.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1914:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]Building a electrical power-plant.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1910:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]The new mill was burned down and rebuilt with annual capacity of 40 000 ton.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1907:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]The old mill was replaced by a new with capacity of 10 000 ton.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1881 – 1887:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]Two big fires.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1883: » title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]A small ground wood mill was established.[/icon_timeline_item][icon_timeline_item time_title=»1616:» title_font_color=»#ffffff» desc_font_color=»#ffffff» title_font_size=»desktop:17px;» desc_font_size=»desktop:17px;»]First Industrial activity. Saw mill.[/icon_timeline_item][/icon_timeline]